WHY ARE YOU NOT SAVED? by Dudley Marvin Canright

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 5, 1872

WHY ARE YOU NOT SAVED?

By Dudley Marvin Canright

BY ELD. D. M. CANRIGHT.

Text: Isa. 5:4: “What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes?”

The Lord here uses the parable of the vineyard to illustrate what he has done that man might be saved. We will read the parable through: “Now will I sing to my well beloved a song of my beloved touching his vineyard. My well beloved hath a vineyard in a very fruitful hill; and he fenced it, and gathered out the stones thereof, and planted it with the choicest vine, and built a tower in the midst of it, and also made a winepress therein; and he looked that it should bring forth grapes, and it brought forth wild grapes. And now, O inhabitants of Jerusalem, and men of Judah, judge, I pray you, betwixt me and my vineyard. What could have been done more to my vineyard, that I have not done in it? wherefore, when I looked that it should bring forth grapes, brought it forth wild grapes? And now go to; I will tell you what I will do to my vineyard: I will take away the hedge thereof, and it shall be eaten up; and break down the wall thereof, and it shall be trodden down; and I will lay it waste: it shall not be pruned, nor digged; but there shall come up briers and thorns: I will also command the clouds that they rain no rain upon it. For the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel, and the men of Judah his pleasant plant: and he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.” Verses 1–7.

The husbandman selects a very fruitful hill, well adapted to the cultivation of grapes. He builds a fence around it; gathers out the stones and brush; breaks it up, and plants it with the choicest vines; then builds a tower in it, and a winepress, and carefully cultivates it, year after year, till the time comes when he expects fruit. But instead of rich, sweet grapes, he finds nothing but little, wild, sour grapes. Then he walks through the vineyard, looks it all over, reconsiders what he has done, and asks himself the question, What more could I have done for my vineyard, that I have not done in it? Have I neglected it? Could I have used any other means? Is there any fault in me, as the reason why it does not bear good fruit? He is satisfied that he has not neglected anything. Then he says, I will take away the fence, break down the wall, and lay it waste. It shall neither be pruned nor worked. Now, says the Lord, This vineyard illustrates my dealings with men.

Now, dear friends, make this application to yourselves individually. Are you bearing good fruit? or are you bringing forth sour grapes? In other words, are you a Christian, a child of God, your sins pardoned? and is God your friend, and have you a good hope of Heaven? Are you saved from your sins? or are you still in the broad road to perdition? If this last is your case, let me ask you, Why is this so? What more could the great God have done for your salvation than he has done? Have you thought of this carefully? Who is to blame if you are damned at last? Did you ever meditate on what God has done to save you? Let us consider a moment.

1. Here is the Bible. What is that book for? and who gave it? Let it speak for itself: “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness; that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” 2 Tim. 3:16, 17. That is it exactly. Our Heavenly Father has given us this large volume of instruction that we might be thoroughly informed as to how we might be saved. This book is not simply a code of laws, dry statutes, and hard commandments; but God has sent it down to us as an absent parent sends letters of instruction, warning, and encouragement, to his children. The Bible was not written all at once and given to us; but year after year, and generation after generation, God continued to give us book after book till the Bible was completed. And what a wonderful book it is! Are you a poor man? How much of that Bible is expressly for your benefit! Are you a rich man? How many times God there names you! Are you unlearned? There is much for you. Are you a wise man? Still there is instruction there for you. Are you in distress? What consolation you may find here! Are you prosperous? Still you will find words directed to you. In short, whatever your condition may be, from the president in his chair to the humblest washer-woman, God has given a portion of meat for every one. There is no possible condition in which you may be placed, but that you will find instruction in this blessed book suited to your circumstances.

Now, my friend, let me ask you seriously, How much have you appreciated this great gift of the Holy Scriptures? Have you read it? Have you studied it? Have you tried to learn the will of your Father in it? Have you cared to do what it says? Alas, I fear many of you have not. I frequently see the Bible laid upon the shelf, with dust accumulated upon it, its leaves unturned, its pages unperused; and in its place, story-papers, political news, and everything else is read and studied; but the word of the great God, which he in mercy has given to teach you how to gain eternal life, lies neglected, unstudied, and unthought of. Is not this a daily insult to Jehovah? And if you are damned at last, who will be to blame? If you had cared to, you might have had more instruction with regard to eternal things. But I must pass this point. But in doing so, let me ask you solemnly and in the fear of God, Do you appreciate this gift of God?

2. God knew that man might slight his word, might lay it aside and forget it; hence he has in great mercy provided another teacher, calling their attention to the word. I refer to the Spirit of God. In Neh. 9:20, we read, “Thou gavest also thy good Spirit to instruct them.” In John 16:7–11, Christ says, “Nevertheless I tell you the truth; it is expedient for you that I go away; for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment; of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.” This Spirit of God is given to men in a greater or less degree, to reprove them of sin, to convince them of the Judgment, and to call their attention to the word of God. In Isaiah, we have this beautiful language: “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.” Isa. 30:21.

Here the Lord says that when a man shall turn to the right hand or to the left, that is, get out of the path of right, or is tempted to do wrong, he shall hear a voice behind him, that still, small voice, saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it.” This we understand to be the Spirit of God reproving him for sin, and awakening his conscience. Who has not heard this voice speak to them? Sinner, have you not heard it? You may have been all alone following your plow, or working at your trade. Your thoughts are all upon the world, yet, in a moment, like a flash of lightning, you are reminded of the Judgment, of death, of the vanity of the world, and your duty to God; or, it may be, your duty to your neglected Bible. When you had been laying some plan of wickedness, and had almost determined to execute it; then a still voice remonstrates with you, and you are saved. Then again, how powerfully it sometimes moves whole communities, till the most hardened sinner has to yield to it. But this Spirit of God may be so grieved as to leave the sinner to his own darkness and hardness of heart, to be lost. To the antediluvians, God says, “My Spirit shall not always strive with man.” Gen. 6:3. To the Ephesians Paul writes, “And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Eph. 4:30. And David, when he had sinned, besought God, saying, “Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy Holy Spirit from me.” Ps. 51:11. God does not compel men to be saved, and the Holy Spirit will not always strive with man, when they reject it. Hence, how often it is the case that we see men who have been powerfully wrought upon by the Spirit of God, till it seemed as though they must yield to it; yet, like Felix, they have said, “Go thy way for this time,” have resisted the convictions of the Spirit, have hardened their hearts, have put it from them, have not listened to its voice. Such men we have seen become careless, unbelieving, dark, and without the least conviction. They can blaspheme God, ridicule his word, and make light of religion. They may go farther, and become skeptics and infidels. Why is this? Is it because God has no light for them? No; it is because they have not received the light. The Spirit of God has left them, and they are now feeding upon the husks and vanity of unbelief. Poor souls! they are deluded and in the dark. They flatter themselves that they are doing the best they know how. But there was a time when they did not do the best they knew how, and now they are reaping the fruit of it. Poor soul! I wish I could reach you and make you see the real truth of your condition. What more could God have done for your salvation than he has done? If you are filled with doubt and darkness, who is to blame? You did not walk in the light while you had the light; and hence darkness has come upon you. See Christ’s language in John 12:35, 36. As I leave this point, I pray God that these words may ring in your ears till they shall awake you from your slumbers, What more could God have done for the salvation of my soul, than he has done?

3. I come now to consider for a moment another proof of God’s wonderful effort to save man. Not only has he given the Bible for our instruction, and the Holy Spirit to stir up our hearts; but he has made the holy angels of Heaven our servants, to secure, if possible, our salvation. Of them Paul says, “Are they not all ministering spirits, sent forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?” Heb. 1:14. Even the highest of them, Gabriel, has repeatedly come to our earth on missions of mercy to the fallen sons of man. The psalmist exclaims, “The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.” Ps. 34:7.

How many times in the history of God’s people has this declaration been truly fulfilled? Angels came to Abraham. They visited Lot. They delivered Daniel, they rescued Peter, they announced glad tidings to the shepherds, and opened the way for the gospel to the Gentiles. Indeed, on almost every page of the Holy Scriptures they appear conspicuously in the work of God in saving man. Peter declares that they are intensely interested in the plan of salvation. “Which things the angels desired to look into.” 1 Pet. 1:12. Christ declares that they rejoice when one sinner repents. Luke 15:10. What interest, then, must they have in all the good! What solicitude! What watchful care over us!

Let us take one or two examples. Dan. 9:21–23: “Yea, while I was speaking in prayer, even the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplications the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee; for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the matter, and consider the vision.” Daniel had been earnestly praying to God. The Lord heard his prayer, and even while upon his knees, and the words yet in his mouth, the angel Gabriel flies swiftly to his presence and answers his earnest supplications. The scene in the next chapter is even more touching. Daniel declares in verses 2 and 3, that he was fasting three full weeks, and making his supplication to God. At the end of that time, the angel came to him, and said, “Fear not, Daniel; for from the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, and to chasten thyself before thy God, thy words were heard, and I am come for thy words.” Chap. 10:12.

By this, we see that from the very day that Daniel commenced to pray, his words were heard; and after God had sufficiently proved him, Gabriel was sent in answer to his prayers, to grant his request. Nor need we think that this is an isolated case. Why should not this often occur? Indeed, we think it does. When God hears the prayers of his people, these holy angels are commissioned to answer their prayers, and to help them in their need. See that pious mother bowed there alone in the closet. With tearful eyes, with hands uplifted, with fervent prayers, she asks God to protect and preserve her absent son; he may be in the war, or upon the high seas, or among strangers. He may be a wicked, wayward child, yet she prays for him. God from on high hears her prayer, a holy angel is commissioned to follow that son, watch over him, touch his heart, melt his soul—all unconscious, it may be, to that young man, this holy one is near him. His heart is moved when he least expected it. And all this is done to save him from death. God has done it—done it willingly, done it for ages, done it without compulsion, done it in mercy, done it to save us; and yet many are unsaved. Who is to blame? Not the holy angels, but we ourselves.

What terrible facts these will be for the lost soul to contemplate when the Judgment comes! Lost, forever lost! and yet who is to blame? Only he himself. God and angels have done all that was possible to save them, and yet they are lost. Poor sinner, as unfeeling and as careless as you are, I beseech you, lay these things to heart. Think of them; and may the great

God press them home upon your soul—trouble you when you lie down, give you no rest when you awake, follow you at your work, and make these words resound like thunder in your ears, “What more could I have done for your salvation than has been done?”

4. But God might give a thousand Bibles, he might give the Holy Spirit in tenfold measure, he might send every angel from glory, and yet all this would not save one soul. Something higher, and broader, and deeper, must be done. Hence we read in John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.” Did we read that right? Is it possible that the infinite God gave up his only Son to die, that the lowest wretch might be saved? Yes; he has not withheld even this proof of his love. Paul declares that Jesus died for sinners. “This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.” 1 Tim. 1:15. And Christ himself said that he had come to call sinners to repentance. It was not simply for such men as Paul, and Daniel, and Job, and Luther, and other holy men, that Jesus died; but he died for the worst of sinners—the least, the vilest, the most ignorant and wretched—even for them Christ died. But who has measured the meaning of all this? Christ was the only Son of the great and holy God. He was in Heaven, with the Father, surrounded with the heavenly host, and all the glory that an infinite God could give him. Worlds on worlds obeyed him. The angels bowed before him. Yet, for the salvation of sinners, he gave up all this. He left his Father’s side—he laid off his glory. He bade adieu to the glories of Heaven, sacrificed the society of angels, and came down to our earth to raise us up to Heaven. And how did he come? Not in glory, and splendor, and honor; not in power, and majesty, and authority. Hear the prophet as he describes his appearance: “For he shall grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground; he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” Isa. 53:2, 3.

He was despised, rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief. We go back to Bethlehem, and there, in a stable, was born the Son of God, and was laid in the manger; and his whole life corresponded with his humble birth. His father was a poor carpenter and a day laborer; and he himself worked with his father at his trade. Mark 6:3.

My brother, are you a man of poverty? Do you have to toil long and hard, till the sweat rolls down your brow, till your limbs are tired, till every muscle quivers, till your very bones ache? The Son of God himself has done all this. He has gone all through this experience before you. He knows what it is to be weary and tired, hungry and thirsty. When he began his ministry, this was the chief objection that the Pharisees brought against him. “And when he was come into his own country, he taught them in their synagogue, insomuch that they were astonished, and said, Whence hath this man this wisdom, and these mighty works? Is not this the carpenter’s son? is not his mother called Mary? and his brethren, James, and Joses, and Simon, and Judas? And his sisters, are they not all with us? Whence then hath this man all these things? And they were offended in him. But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honor, save in his own country, and in his own house.” Matt. 13:54–57. When these proud men heard his wonderful words of wisdom, they began to inquire, Who is this? Is not this the carpenter’s son? Do we not know his brothers? They are all poor men, and have to work by the day to earn a living; and his sisters, none of them are persons of distinction. He belongs to that poor, ignorant family. And they were offended at him.

My brother, you who are trembling at the cross, and think you cannot make the light sacrifice for Christ, follow him through life, and see what he did for you. While others were rich, he was poor; while others had honor, he had not where to lay his head; while others were feasting, he was fasting; while others were laughing, he was weeping; while others rolled in splendid carriages, he went afoot through the heat and dust; while others were praised, he was cursed; while others were honored, he was despised. Listen a moment how he spent his nights. “And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.” Luke 6:12. “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared.” Heb. 5:7. After a hard day’s work, as the shades of night gathered around, the Son of God retires from men, and seeks the lonely mountain. Just below, in the village, the rich and gay are having a feast. They are dancing and making merry; but Jesus is alone in the mountain, before his Father, praying for poor sinners. It is not a short, cold, formal prayer; but he prays earnestly, he prays long, he prays with tears and crying. The dews of night fell upon his locks. And this was not on account of his own sins, but for the sins of others. Following him through his holy life, we find that tenderness, sympathy, and pity, marked his every step and action. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. Rejected by the rich, proud, and the self-righteous, he spent most of his labor among the poor, the humble, and the sinners. He is found in the lowly dwelling beside the bed of the sick, and ministering to the needy. His hand is ever stretched out to do good. He is found with Martha and Mary, weeping at the grave of Lazarus. We hear him weeping over Jerusalem. We follow him to the garden of Gethsemane, and there behold the agony of his soul. Says Mark, “And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane; and he saith to his disciples, Sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and began to be sore amazed and to be very heavy; and saith unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death; tarry ye here, and watch.” Mark 14:32–34. “And being in an agony, he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat was as it were great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” Luke 22:44.

What intense agony of soul the Son of God must have suffered in that terrible hour, when he sweat, as it were, great drops of blood. Mental agony is more terrible to bear, if possible, than physical pain. Sometimes we see persons so overcome by anguish of heart, that the sweat will start from their pores and drop down on the face. The Son of God suffered so intensely that the very blood pressed from his veins and fell to the ground. For a moment he was almost overcome, and cried out, “O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me.” But remembering that the salvation of the world depended upon his perseverance, immediately adds, “Thy will be done.” From there, he is taken before the high priest to be examined. Matthew says: “Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? Behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy. What think ye? They answered and said, He is guilty of death. Then did they spit in his face, and buffeted him; and others smote him with the palms of their hands, saying, Prophesy unto us, thou Christ, Who is he that smote thee?” Matt. 26:65–68.

What indignity was heaped upon the harmless Son of God! The vile sinners spit in his face, and others buffeted him; and others still, struck him with their hands, and mocked him. Sinner, did you ever stop and meditate how Jesus must have felt, how he must have suffered in that hour? Place yourself, for a moment, in his stead. How would you feel to have a man come up and spit in your face, strike you, and deride you? It would not be easy for you to pray. Yet all this Christ bore without a murmur, and without resentment, in order to save just such men as you.

Listen to Mark’s touching account of the crucifixion: “And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.” Mark 15:15. Jesus is condemned; then he is scourged before being led away to crucifixion. This scourging was a terrible process. The hands are tied, the back is bared, and then the cruel lash is laid upon the naked flesh; stroke after stroke, till the blood trickles down the sides, and the poor sufferer becomes weak and faint by the loss of blood. So Jesus did, for he fainted in the way as they were leading him to Calvary. “And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Pretorium; and they call together the whole band.” Verse 16. Now this band of heartless, hardened wretches, proposed to have a grand time. “And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head; and began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews.” Verses 17, 18. They put on him an old purple robe of the color which kings wore; and then in mockery put a crown of thorns upon his head, and in derision saluted him, Hail, King of the Jews. “And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him. And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.” Verses 19, 20. Yet during all this mockery, and buffeting, and insulting, Jesus shows no anger or resentment; but meekly submits himself to this shameful treatment. With a word he could have delivered himself, and have slain them all; but for our sakes he did it not. “And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross. And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull. And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh; but he received it not. And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take. And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. And the superscription of his accusation was written over, The King of the Jews. And with him they crucify two thieves; the one on his right hand, and the other on his left. And the scripture was fulfilled, which saith, And he was numbered with the transgressors.” Verses 21–28.

The most cruel death was the death of the cross. A large wooden beam was laid upon the ground, and toward the top a cross-piece nailed upon this. Then Jesus was laid upon it. His hand is stretched out and laid upon the cross, the nails brought and the hammer raised; and then the cruel nail, with stroke after stroke, is driven through the tender flesh and sensitive nerves, tearing and lacerating them till the blood pours from the veins. The hand is a very sensitive part of the human form. How intense must have been the pain caused by such treatment. That hand that had never done evil, that had caused pain to no one, but had ever been stretched out to feed the hungry, to relieve the needy, to administer to the suffering—this hand is cruelly torn by relentless men. Then the other hand is stretched forth, and the same process repeated upon that. His feet are then laid upon the cross, and large spikes are driven through them, while the blood trickles down upon the ground. Then he is lifted up, and there hangs upon the cross, suspended by those nails driven through his hands and feet. While in this terrible position, when it seems that the heart of Satan must have shown some pity, the unholy throng mock at him still. “And they that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads, and saying, Ah, thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself, and come down from the cross. Likewise also the chief priests mocking said among themselves with the scribes, He saved others; himself he cannot save. Let Christ the King of Israel descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe. And they that were crucified with him reviled him.” Mark 15:29–32.

What terrible hatred must have dwelt in their hearts to produce such conduct as this! But Jesus endures it all patiently, and without a murmur.

Sinner, go back to Calvary, and contemplate that wonderful work, and remember that Jesus suffered all this, that you might be saved. What more could you ask? Can you not afford to bear a light cross for him when he bore such a terrible cross for you? How forcible is our text when we view all these things as they are. What more could he have done for your salvation than has been done?

After all this provision for your salvation, still the Lord does not leave it here, does not leave us in the dark to find out how to be saved. But he has given us his ministers, and commissioned them to go and proclaim the glad news to the whole world, to every creature, offering salvation to every one upon the simple terms of believing and being baptized. You can come without money and without price. You can come whether learned or ignorant. You can receive this wonderful gift whether rich or poor. Christ will not reject you. The Father will freely pardon you, though the most wicked of sinners; yet you need his mercy, though you may have committed but few sins. The plan covers every case, and all possible cases. But I must close.

My brother, my sister, in the name of the Lord, lay these solemn thoughts to your heart; meditate on them; think of them over and over. Ask yourself the question, If I am not saved, why is it? Is it because God is to blame? What more could an infinite God have done for your salvation than he has done? Do you think he ought to give you more light? But stop; have you walked in the light you already have? Do you think he ought to remove all your doubts? Have not these doubts come in consequence of disobedience, and neglecting to do what you knew to be your duty? When you were brought to the gates of the grave, did you not promise that if God would spare your life you would serve him? Have you done it? You may be brought there again. Will God hear your cries then, when you did not keep your vows before? When you saw that dear friend laid away, cold and pale in the silent grave, did you not then promise to change your life, and give your heart to the Saviour? Why have you not done it? The Lord may come nearer still, next time.

Be careful. Stop now. Think again, I pray you, of what has been done to secure your soul’s salvation. An open Bible has been before you from your earliest days. Have you read it? Time after time the Spirit of God has worked upon your heart. Have you yielded to it? For years, angels of God have hovered around you, have watched you, have been anxious for you. Have you grieved them away? Even the Son of God has died in terrible anguish to save you. Ministers, time after time, have offered you salvation in the name of the Lord; then prayed for you, and exhorted you, taught you. Perhaps a pious mother or father has wept over you, and interceded with God for you. Now shall all this be in vain, and you be lost at last? If so, what a terrible lamentation will be yours. Born in a Christian land, with every possible chance for salvation, yet you have rejected and slighted all this, and persistently gone on in the very course that you knew must end in death. May the good God trouble your heart, and awake your soul to a view of these things as they are; and may you never find rest till you find it in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Hutchinson, Oct. 9, 1872.